They said/We said: Jay-Z’s Rocawear uses Occupy Wall Street to sell T-shirts

Jay-Z’s not getting much love today, after his clothing line Rocawear came out with a T-shirt using the ubiquitous Occupy Wall Street slogan for another message: Occupy All Streets. While the message of the T-shirt is similar to the original—and we’re thinking that he had good intentions in wanting to give the Occupy movement more attention—the T-shirt is rubbing people the wrong way.

Rocawear using OWS, a worldwide protest with many supporters and even more onlookers, is not necessarily the issue—and we’re not totally surprised that Jay (the businessman that he is) would try to profit from the protests. But the company has no plans to give any of the money made from the T-shirt to support the movement that it’s riffing. No matter what his intentions were, pocketing the profits without giving back is a controversial decision for the brand to make.

Jay-Z must be forgetting that he is very obviously part of the 1%, and that by using the message of the Occupy movement without giving anything back, he’s only helping himself. And isn’t that part of what the protests are against? Rocawear should stay away from political protests and stick with making streetwear.

THEY SAID…

A Rocawear spokesperson: “The ‘Occupy All Streets’ T shirt was created in support of the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement. Rocawear strongly encourages all forms of constructive expression, whether it be artistic, political or social. ‘Occupy All Streets’ is our way of reminding people that there is change to be made everywhere, not just on Wall Street. At this time we have not made an official commitment to monetarily support the movement.” [Fashionista]

Fashionista: “If Jay-Z was trying to show support for OWS, that plan totally backfired when he decided to profit from it and not share any of the wealth. Woops!” [Fashionista]

Gothamist: “Now it’s only a matter of time until Jay-Z, Katy Perry, Russell Brand, and (hell, why not) Mickey Rourke, get their assistants to call their driver and tell them to drive really slow by Zuccotti Park, in solidarity. No word on whether Mr. Sean Carter sees any irony in sitting on his “Throne” and supporting a movement driven to improving the lives of the poor and middle class. Maybe it refers to those new porta-potties?” [Gothamist]

WE SAID…

Sarah Nicole Prickett, contributor: “I would call this move classy with a k. However, I don’t see it as capitalizing on a movement. I think it’s more like riffing on a hashtag.”

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